The location is very good, with the water taxi right there. However, the hotel is under renovation and until it's complete, I would not recommend staying there again. The newly renovated rooms are not being rented yet, but I saw them and they are outstanding. Most of the hotel is under construction, and the facilities are unavailable or in poor condition. When the renovation is complete, it will be a top pick. Perhaps they'll offer deep discounts if they rent one of the older rooms as they are in terrible condition. The staff is very accomodating and well trained, but I felt bad that they had to make excuses for the condition of the hotel. I'll go back when the hotel is finished.

I really, really wanted to like this place. It's a great location if you're visiting Ft. Lauderdale, close to the beach, next door to a mall and the water taxi stops right there.

What happened with our stay? Frankly I'm not sure. We arrived around 11:30am after debarking a cruise ship on Christmas Eve and were told that while there was room at the inn our room wouldn't be ready until closer to 2:30pm. So off we went with our 3-year-old to the beach, had lunch and came back at 2:15 to be reminded checkin wasn't until 3pm. We're patient and rules are rules so we waited until 3pm to check-in. Now keep in mind the hotel appeared more than half empty based on the number of cars in the parking lot.

Bottom line is room wasn't ready until 3:45 with no explanation other than "the room wasn't ready." Staff were quite polite but just surprising that a reservation made many months ago can't be honored for a 3pm checkin. They did comp our parking which was a nice gesture but when you're traveling with a sandy, wet, tired 3-year-old after a few hours at the beach everyone is a little frazzled. I suspect that because it was Chrismas Eve/Christmas they were extremely short-staffed and didn't have enough people there to get the rooms ready. Oh... and next morning there was a knock on the door at 9:30 from the maid to see if we were ready to leave. So you can see why I felt they were in no rush to have us checkin and in a great rush to have us check out!

Okay... so why was this hotel a little weird? I think, and this is sheer speculation, that there's a massive changeover coming to high-priced condos. This hotel has a great location but there was a condo sales office set up in the lobby and there's evidence of construction in the higher floors. I think because the place is in transition the fact that it's a hotel is being forgotten. I don't you can get a room on a higher floor because of the fact it's being turned into condos, but again this is sheer speculation on my part, and not fact.

Now... as for the facilities. My wife hated it, said the carpet was soiled and the place looked old. I actually liked the hotel property and was eager to write a glowing review.

Our room had a great view. I took the advice of an earlier reviewer and stayed away from the street/bridge. It did seem loud.

But the room itself was extremely spacious, comfortable and the bathroom was huge. I'd never stayed at a Doubletree before and loved the little kitchen that came with the room, almost like a mini-apartment. And there is a great area to lounge around in by the intra-coastal waterway. Perfect place for a drink, a meal or just watching the boats with my son.

Would I stay here again? Yeah, but not with my wife! She was kind of ticked about everything. I liked it and might give them a second chance. Comping the $11/night parking was a decent gesture for the delay in getting our room ready. But this hotel definitely seemed past its prime and ready for an update. Not sure when it was built but the rooms and fixtures were looking a little tired although the hotel itself is a fine property. Oh and free internet access is available on the second floor.

I won't discourage you from staying and I hope that your checkin experience goes a lot smoother than mine did!

Visited Ft. Lauderdale for a second time this year and stayed at the Doubletree Galleria again. I would definitely return.
PROS:
-convenient location:
-25 min. drive from the airport
-5 min. walk to the beach
-staff
-water taxi stops directly in back of hotel
-patio area in back with "mini beach"
-nice heated pool
-across the street from a CVS, Wholefoods Market & a pretty good Chinese restaurant
-next to a nice mall that features, among other stores, Saks, Dillards and Neiman Marcus, etc., and one of the best food courts around
-rooms are a good size, beds are comfortable and each suite has a full kitchen, living/dining area
-rooms with balconies facing the waterway
CONS:
-traffic noise from busy E. Sunrise
-noise from the drawbridge
-occasional loud party boats floating by
RECOMMENDATIONS: When staying there ask for a waterview balcony suite on a high floor as far away from the bridge as possible, otherwise, ask for a city view suite

I've stayed here many times since the location is convenient to the water taxi, beaches & mall. The hotel has been milked dry while the units are being converted into condos. I'm suprised that management allows the units to be so run down when they are trying to sell units. I would buy if not so turn off by the daily management and room condition. Checked in today, no doorman, no valet, just one person for check-in. TV's broke...carpet needs a good cleaning, but will probably jump the water taxi and enjoy the Intercoastal! After every stay I get a Doubletree e-mail to take a satisfaction survey, which I fill out, but nothing changes!